Safeguard and keep [these rules], since this is your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the nations. They will hear all these rules and say, 'This great nation is certainly a wise and understanding people.'

Only take heed and watch yourself very carefully, so that you do not forget the things that your eyes saw. Do not let [this memory] leave your hearts, all the days of your lives. Teach your children and children's children about

It was then that God said to me, 'Congregate the people for Me, and I will let them hear My words. This will teach them to be in awe of Me as long as they live on earth, and they will also teach their children.'

When you raise your eyes to the sky, and see the sun, moon, stars and other heavenly bodies, do not bow down to them or worship them. It was to all the [other] nations under the heavens that God made them a portion.

When you have children and grandchildren, and have been established in the land for a long time, you might become decadent and make a statue of some image, committing an evil act in the eyes of God your Lord and making Him angry.

I call heaven and earth as witnesses for you today that you will then quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. You will not remain there very long, since you will be utterly destroyed.

You might inquire about times long past, going back to the time that God created man on earth, [exploring] one end of the heavens to the other. See if anything as great as this has ever happened, or if the like has ever been heard.

Has God ever done miracles bringing one nation out of another nation with such tremendous miracles, signs, wonders, war, a mighty hand and outstretched arm, and terrifying phenomena, as God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?

Keep His decrees and commandments that I am presenting to you today, so that He will be good to you and your children after you. Then you will endure for a long time in the land that God your Lord is giving you for all time.

then (Ramban; cf. Ibn Ezra). Or, 'Then I designated' (Chizzkuni). Some say that Moses designated these cities after he had been told that he would not see the promised land (Devarim Rabbah 2:26; Malbim), or after he saw it from afar (Tzafenath Paaneach).

Betzer See Joshua 20:8, 1 Chronicles 6:63. Although its exact location is unknown, the Talmud (Makkoth 9b) states that it was parallel to Hebron, and it was therefore probably near Divon (see Numbers 21:30). Some identify it with Bosor in 1 Maccabees 5:26,28. It is also identified with Kevathirim (Targum Yonathan), which is also unknown.

Ramoth Usually identified with Ramoth Gilead; see Joshua 21:36, 1 Kings 22:3. This is the modern Tell Remith or es-Salt, 25 miles east of the Jordan, and 12 miles south of the Kinnereth. However, according to the Talmud, Ramoth parallels Shechem, while Tell Remith is considerably to its north.

Golan See Joshua 20:8, 21:7, 1 Chronicles 6:56. It was later known as Gaulon (Eusebius, Omonastica Sacra 242), and Gaulanitis (Josephus, Antiquities 8:2:3, Wars 1:4:4, 3:3:1, 4:1:1, 4:1:5). This is the modern Jaulan or Sachem el Jolan, some 18 miles east of the Kinnereth. Other sources identify it with an unknown city, Dabra (Targum Yonathan). The Talmud states that it parallels Kadesh in Naphtali.

This All the above (Lekach Tov; cf. Bachya). Or, the following (Rashi).

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